Medical personnel responded to a shooting incident on Saturday, June 14, 2025, during the ‘No Kings’ march in downtown Salt Lake City, which left a man critically injured. Police reported that three individuals were taken into custody following the incident, which unfolded near the march’s route.
Witnesses saw the victim collapsed on State Street in front of the Liberty SKY apartment complex, receiving emergency care from responders. While the police are investigating the motive behind the shooting, their preliminary findings indicate that at least four individuals were involved, including the critically injured man.
The victim, who appeared to be the same person that officers handcuffed before being loaded onto a stretcher, has since been hospitalized with serious injuries from a gunshot wound and is being monitored under police guard. Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd stated in a press conference that authorities are still determining the identity of the shooter.
Two additional individuals were detained later Saturday evening, but no details were provided regarding their involvement. Police received reports of gunfire around 7:56 p.m. near 151 S. State St., leading to chaos as protesters fled the scene. Journalists from The Salt Lake Tribune observed panic among the crowd as officers swiftly responded, with some heard shouting warnings about a gunman.
Witness Kris Pendleton shared a video that captured the disturbance, showing the crowd’s fearful reactions. He described hearing gunshots and seeing a man in a yellow vest firing. Pendleton recalled, “I was kind of deer in the headlights,” adding that his wife urged him to seek safety.
Another protester, Sarah Morton, recounted the moment of the shooting, describing how she initially perceived the scene as festive until the loud pop turned tragic. Eric Snider, who was also present, noted seeing the aftermath of the shooting from a distance and quickly recorded the immediate scene.
As law enforcement worked to secure the area, they initially pushed back a man claiming to be a trauma nurse before allowing him to assist the victim. Multiple officers rushed toward a parking garage adjacent to the shooting site, where they believed the shooter had fled.
Despite the violence, some protesters expressed a desire for the movement to persist untainted by fear. Snider stated, “If people get the idea that it was connected to the march, that the marches are dangerous, then, yeah, I guess it might [impact future protests], but I hope not.” Morton echoed this sentiment, asserting, “Let’s not let fear rule us. I’ll be at the next protest.”
The protest was part of a nationwide initiative opposing President Donald Trump’s immigration policies and military tactics during civil demonstrations. Speakers at the event emphasized the importance of nonviolence and standing in solidarity against perceived oppression.
The turnout for the rally before the incident was substantial, with crowds growing from an initial estimate of 4,000 participants to around 10,000 during the march, showcasing a strong display of dissent against current policies.
As tensions mounted across the nation following a violent incident in Minnesota, local leaders, including Utah Governor Spencer Cox, reiterated their commitment to peaceful protests, stating, “The second you implement violence or property destruction, we will arrest you and hold you accountable.”
This chaotic event marks a stark contrast to the peaceful atmosphere that had characterized the ‘No Kings’ demonstrations throughout the day across the state, which attracted over 5 million participants nationally.